New Guinea Impatiens plant named `BFP-796`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant named `BFP-796`, characterized by its large and numerous orange-colored flowers; upright and mounded plant habit; short internodes; good basal branching; and dark green leaves.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of NewGuinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri, andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name `BFP-796`.

The new New Guinea Impatiens is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Arroyo Grande, Calif. The objective of thebreeding program was to develop new cultivars with excellent basalbranching, upright and medium growth habit, numerous large flowers, andinteresting flower and foliage colors.

The new cultivar originated from a cross made by the Inventor to twounidentified proprietary Impatiens hawkeri selections. The cultivar`BFP-796` was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a floweringplant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environmentin Arroyo Grande, Calif., on Sep. 15, 1996.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken atArroyo Grande, Calif., has shown that the unique features of this newImpatiens are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of `BFP-796`. These characteristics incombination distinguish `BFP-796` as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Large and numerous orange-colored flowers.

2. Upright and mounded plant habit.

3. Short internodes.

4. Good basal branching.

5. Dark green leaves.

The new New Guinea Impatiens can be compared to the commercial cultivar,`BSR-195 Salmon` (disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,870). However, inside-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Arroyo Grande,Calif., plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens differ from plants of thecultivar `BSR-195 Salmon` in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens are more compact and haveshorter lateral branches than plants of the cultivar `BSR-195 Salmon`.

2. Under high light conditions, leaves of plants of the cultivar`BSR-195 Salmon` will become variegated whereas leaves of plants of thenew New Guinea Impatiens will maintain solid dark green color.

3. Flowers of plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens are more orange incolor than flowers of plants of the cultivar `BSR-195 Salmon`.

4. Plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens have longer peduncles thanplants of the cultivar `BSR-195 Salmon`.

A detailed comparison of plants of the cultivar `BFP-796` and thecultivar `BSR-195 Salmon` appears in Chart A at the end of thespecification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproduction of this type. The photographcomprises a top perspective view of a typical plant of `BFP-796`. Flowerand foliage colors in the photograph appear lighter than the actualcolors due to light reflectance.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The cultivar `BFP-796` has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype. The following observations,measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in 10-cm pots inArroyo Grande, Calif., under commercial practice in a glass-coveredgreenhouse with day temperatures about 22° C. and night temperaturesabout 18° C.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri cultivar `BFP-796`.

Parentage:

Male parent.--Unidentified proprietary Impatiens hawkeri selection.

Female parent.--Unidentified proprietary Impatiens hawkeri selection.

Propagation:

Type cutting.--Terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.--About 7 days at temperatures about 18° C.

Time to develop roots.--About 21 days at temperatures about 18° C.

Rooting habit.--Fibrous, fine, freely branching.

Plant description:

Plant form.--Upright and mounded.

Growth and branching habit.--Moderately vigorous. Good basal branchingwith about six lateral branches at the base, dense and bushy growth.Appropriate for 10 and 12.5-cm containers.

Plant height.--About 12.6 cm.

Crop time.--About eight weeks are required to produce a finishedflowering plant in a 10-cm container from a rooted cutting.

Lateral branches.--Length: About 6 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm. Internodelength: About 2 cm. Color: 144C.

Foliage description.--Leaves simple, generally symmetrical, abundant, inwhorls or opposite. Quantity of leaves per lateral branch: About nine.Length: About 9 cm. Width: About 3.2 cm. Shape: Lanceolate withacuminate apex, attenuate base and ciliate and serrate margin. Texture:Rugose, slightly pubescent. Color: Fully expanded foliage, uppersurface: 137A. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 147B. Venation,upper surface: 145C. Venation, lower surface: 145C. Petiole: Length:About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Color: 145C.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.--Large orange-colored flowers. Freely andcontinuously flowering. Flowers arise from leaf axils. Usually aboutnine flowers and flower buds per lateral branch. Flowers positionedmostly above the foliage and typically face outward to upward. Flowersgenerally flat and rounded. Flowers persistent.

Flowering season.--Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In thegarden, flowering is continuous from spring until fall.

Flower longevity.--About 3 or 4 days.

Flower size.--Diameter: About 7.5 cm. Depth: About 1.5 cm.

Flower buds.--Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm. Shape:Ovoid, pointed. Color: 41B.

Petals.--Quantity: Five, overlapping. Length: About 3 cm. Width: About3.5 cm. Shape: Obcordate with emarginate apex, attenuate base and entiremargin. Texture: smooth, iridescent. Color: When opening, upper surface:40A. When opening, lower surface: 41B. Fully opened, upper surface: 40Bwith 51A at base. Fully opened, lower surface: 38B. Upper surface fadingto: 39A.

Spur.--Length: About 6.6 cm. Shape: Narrow and curved. Color: 53C.

Peduncles.--Length: About 5.6 cm. Angle: About 45° to the lateralbranch. Strength: Moderately strong. Color: 144D.

Reproductive organs.--Androecium: Stamen number: Five, anthers fused,filaments free. Anther shape: Obovate. Anther color: 12D. Amount ofpollen: Moderate. Pollen color: 13D. Gynoecium: Five-loculate fused.Gynoecium color: 143C.

Disease resistance: Under commercial conditions, resistance to pathogenshas not been observed.

Seed development: Seed production has not been observed.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                        CHARACTERISTIC                                                                              `BFP-796`    `BSR-195 SALMON`                                   ______________________________________                                        PLANT HEIGHT  About 12.6 cm                                                                              About 13.5 cm                                      LATERAL BRANCH                                                                              About 6 cm   About 7 cm                                         LENGTH                                                                        LATERAL BRANCH                                                                              About 6 mm   about 4 mm                                         DIAMETER                                                                      STEM COLOR    144C         144D with 183D                                                                near nodes                                         QUANTITY OF LEAVES                                                                          About 9      About 11                                           PER LATERAL                                                                   BRANCH                                                                        LEAF LENGTH   About 9 cm   About 8 cm                                         LEAF WIDTH    About 3.2 cm About 3.3 cm                                       LEAF COLOR, UPPER                                                                           137A         139A                                               SURFACE                                                                       LEAF COLOR, LOWER                                                                           147B         138B                                               SURFACE                                                                       LEAF COLOR, UPPER                                                                           137A         139A at margins,                                   SURFACE UNDER              center yellow, 7A                                  HIGH LIGHT                                                                    LEAF VEIN COLOR,                                                                            145C         144C                                               UPPER & LOWER                                                                 SURFACES                                                                      PETIOLE COLOR 145C         144C                                               FLOWER DIAMETER                                                                             About 7.5 cm About 7.2 cm                                       PETAL COLOR, WHEN                                                                           40A          43A/44A                                            OPENING, UPPER                                                                SURFACE                                                                       PETAL COLOR, WHEN                                                                           41B          47C                                                OPENING, LOWER                                                                SURFACE                                                                       PETAL COLOR,  40B with 51A 46C                                                OPENED, UPPER at base                                                         SURFACE                                                                       PETAL COLOR,  38B          46D                                                OPENED, LOWER                                                                 SURFACE                                                                       PETAL COLOR, FADING                                                                         39A          47C                                                TO                                                                            PEDUNCLE LENGTH                                                                             About 5.6 cm About 4.5 cm                                       FLOWER BUD COLOR                                                                            41B          47D                                                ______________________________________                                    

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant named `BFP-796`, as illustrated and described. 